Blessed or Broken

Shadows are just that they're shadows a shadow can't hurt you and a shadow can't harm. You a shadow merely is cast by an object standing in the way of the light. Some of you have been held captive by a shadow the psalmist David said in Psalms 23. That he was not going to fear though he go through the valley of the shadow of death. He understood the shadow can't harm me the shadow can't hurt me for. God holds me in all he does we just heard confirmation that he holds us in. His hand only what he allows to come in can harm us we. Can freely walk out of his hand if we choose to but if? Your desire is to be close to God then hold you he will make. No confusion about it nothing can separate you from God nor his love and you've heard me say. Before the only thing that can defeat you is you there is no force in hell. There is no enemy or no foe that you will face that ever has the power to defeat a child of.

God but it's convincing yourself of this God spoke to me about five minutes ago jeff I've put. My sermon away it's not for today God desires to do something different will. You pray with me and for me that I can be obedient God I set self aside right. Now to be obedient to what you're trying to do in this service I know. You have a word for us that's appropriate for the moment we're in. God I pray that you would use me right. Now to deliver that to this your church in the name of Jesus I pray and. Amen Matthew chapter 14. Jesus is dealing with the death of John the baptist. He's getting his mind around it he's head off his popularity has caused quite a crowd to follow with him which. Is common when things happen especially involving the supernatural the way things unfold? Now if you're going to allow me to do this then I'm going to have to wander. And think because this is how I think if you ever want to know. How I put together a sermon you're fixing to see it?

Because you're going to help me build one right. Now Jesus has the multitude following him and they get out to a desert place and. They're hungry it happens to the best of us he looks around the crowd and realizes. That a need is there that needs to be met and we see. This take place around verse number 13. It says when Jesus heard of. It he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof. They followed him on foot out of the city and Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude. And was moved with compassion towards them and he healed their sick and. When it was evening his disciples came to him saying this is a desert place and the time has. Now passed sin the multitude away that they may go into the villages and buy themselves rituals I love. That that's good southern word rituals they hungry they needed some vittles Jesus said. They need not depart give you them to eat and they said unto him. We have here but five loaves and two fishes and I love this.

Because Jesus didn't ask him what to had he didn't ask him to qualify. What they had whether big nor small he just simply said what you have give? Why is it we feel like we have to qualify ourselves before God? Why is it we feel like until we reach a certain level that? God can't use us there was no requirement here outside of what you have gift. It was the disciples it was man it was you it was I. Who decide God what I have is insufficient God in no way ever indicated in? This verse that what they had was insufficient he simply asked what you have give. Look at your neighbor and say what you have give you don't have to qualify. It any other way you don't have to reach a certain status or level. You don't have to have this number of accolades or degrees behind your name or. This accomplishment you don't have none of that was required in this moment and. I'm telling you none of that is required in your life he simply says. What you have I want doesn't matter how broken it is it doesn't matter?

How many times that you have made a mistake with it he doesn't put any qualifiers on? It he simply asked what you have give it. But Lord we only have the five loaves and two fishes. But he said bring it hither to me what you have he wants. What you have God says bring to him I'm speaking to somebody in? This room you've been struggling by some things that have caused you to stumble backwards and. You walk with God and you feel like in some way that has disqualified. You from what God has told you already multiple times he was going to. Do through you in the name of Jesus I rebuked that you are still just as called as? You was the first time he spoke to you the calling of God. Is without repentance it's without repentance in other words God does not say oh I made a mistake just? Because you failed his desire is still to do a work with what. You have he's not wanting you to add to it in this moment. He's not saying and when you reach this level then I'm going to.

Do a mighty work he simply says give me what you have bring? It hither to me and I'm speaking to somebody in this room stop making excuses. He has called you he's not going to call you again. Because he hasn't changed his mind amen and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and the two fishes and he looked up to Heaven. And he blessed it and he break it we confuse the blessing of. God often we confuse why it has happened into our life this has been going over. And over my spirit for a while and I thought it was for. Another day until the Lord says no five minutes ago over there it's for. Now I love having God's blessing and favor in my life I'm thankful for. It I'm thankful for the goodness and the mercy of God I love. That it's fresh and new every day because I need it in my life. You may live a great and grand life and never stub your toe. But I do it on the often so I'm thankful that God gives me an opportunity to cry out to him on a daily basis.

And that cry comes with fresh mercy and grace for today blessings however. You have to be very careful how you handle those things there's a Lot of prosperity messages. And prosperity doctrine that's being preached in our world mainstream christianity seems to be eat up with. It right now but I desire to pull out of the scriptures today and point out. This simple fact that God blessed what was given to him he didn't ask for anything other than. What they had he didn't say go get something else and when you get? It then come back to me but what they had in the moment. They were in in the circumstances and the situations they were facing all. He asked was for them to bring what they had and bring it to him and. Then he blessed it I love God's blessings in my life I'm thankful for those blessings God's been good. He's been my provider he's been my healer he's been my waymaker he showed up in the darkest tower. He was there when I cried out and needed him when nobody else. Was around and everybody else had fallen away and abandoned me he showed up right?

When I needed him when I called on him he showed up he has been. My strong tower my refuge the place that I can run to when life seems to be chaotic. And out of control my God has been there I'm thankful for the blessings of. God in my life yes I have made my share of mistakes yes I've walked away. But every time I needed God in my life God showed up and. I'm thankful for that blessing in my life I'm faithful for his faithfulness for me. I'm faithful that he's always been there every time I needed him my. God was there. But he also broke it he broke it he didn't take. What they had and leave it alone because that's not how God operates? God always takes what we give him and he does something with it. Now here's a deal about giving things to God God will only use. What we fully give him he's only used what we fully give him Caden? Come here don't be nervous I'm not gonna ask any hard questions I'm gonna give. This to you okay I want you to use it okay.

So take it but use it all right it's a gift to you. Okay you got it take it use that gift all right it's yours to. Do with what you want okay all right why don't you take it? It's yours nobody asks you Siri it's a little hard for Caden to. Do anything why because I'm holding on to it thank you Caitlyn God asks? You for what you have his desire is only for what you have nothing more than. What you have and nothing less than what you have? But his desires to have it and it only works when you fully give. It to him just like I told Caden I was giving him that phone for him to have. But as long as I'm hanging on to it it doesn't do him any. He can't do anything with it you can't come in and say God I give. You all that I am and then put qualifications on what God can and can't. Do with you it only works if you fully give yourself to God and in the moment? You fully give yourself to him he can do something great and grand with.

It now the little boy who had the loaves and fishes he was simply asked to give. And he gave there was no way that young man had the ability nor the means in. My opinion to be able to feed 5 000 people he simply had five loaves and two fishes. He had enough for himself and maybe one or two more. But God didn't ask him to feed 5 000 people God only asked him to give. What he had and he took what he had and he blessed it and? Then he break it now maybe you haven't thought through this process a whole Lot. It's okay I know that as a pastor I spent quite a bit of time studying scriptures. And letting it marinate and simmer down in my soul. But as I begin to think about this I don't know where you fall on the line of. How this process works but there's no way in that one evening that? Jesus sat there with those pieces of bread and broke off 5 000 pieces and handed. It out I've been to a few church socials in my time there's.

No way Jesus himself sits there and breaks that bread and breaks up the fish sticks. And says here you go but what I know he did as he began to break. What was given to him he began to hand it out and other people took? That and they went and they began to break it how do I know. This because his initial command was to have them set in companies of 50.. What am I saying when you give something to God and you fully give? It to him he will do much more than you could have ever imagined. You could have done if you'd have held on to it he's not asking for. You to add to it he's not asking you for anything other than. What you have and for you to give it to him if you give? It to him though I will promise you there's a breaking process coming. But it's only through the brokenness that God can do the miraculous see the blessing part. Is there and we love the blessings in our life and I'm thankful for the blessings I've already covered?

This part but sometimes we misunderstand why the blessing is there the blessing isn't always. There in your life for you just to enjoy for you just to have more for. You just to live it up in the moment you're in often times. God is preparing you through a blessing because he's getting ready to break. You but don't get discouraged in the time of brokenness and think it's all over and lost. That God somehow I misunderstood what you were asking me to do I thought. You said you wanted me to give you my life I thought you said. That if I would trust you you would take care of me we. Can be so short-sighted when the shadow shows up in our life? But it was through the brokenness that the multitude was fed it was through the brokenness of. What took place that God was able to do his best work it? Was through the brokenness that it changed those that were involved for they seen something? They had never seen before but it only happened through a blessing and a breaking. See we think sometimes it's the breaking that we've experienced in life and.

Now the blessing comes so we're in a better position. But that's not what God always desires to do oftentimes he's blessing you to prepare. You to get you in a new place in a position. So that he can in turn break you and through the breaking process. He is changing you and going to do more miraculous things than you could have ever imagined in. Your life so I say to you don't worry about what God is doing understand just be content being in. His hands whether in your hands you're being blessed or in his hands. You're being broken either way you're still in his hands he told Peter in one instance get thee behind me. You're mindful of the things of man you're not mindful of the things of the kingdom. If you misunderstand and get the man he told Peter another time what's wrong with. You where's your faith you were walking on water he told Peter another time. Before the crows tomorrow he'll deny you ever knew me three times there's. No way there's no way you've got to be careful with those no way statements with.

God be really careful with those no way statements. Because it's interesting how those things have a way of coming back around. But the beauty to me and the story of Peter had everything to. Do with the fact that Jesus never gave up on him he never quit? He never stopped there wasn't a moment there wasn't a month go back and read. It there was not a moment when he said you're going to deny me three times. And that's it we're done that's not how the conversation went he tells him. You're going to fail he tells him the the devil desires to sift. You as wheat Peter it's going to be a bad day for you I know. You're not going to fully understand this but things are going to get bad. It's going to get so bad that I know you love me and. You're willing to die you're willing to chop people's ears off you're willing to stand up to rome itself in. This moment where we are right now but something's coming that's going to break. You Peter it's going to be different than anything you've ever experienced I'm giving.

You warning ahead of time that you will deny you know me. But there's something on the other side of that brokenness don't dare stop in the moment. I'm broken for there's something on the others there's something on the other side. I'm speaking to some individuals I'm reaching for you you're in that broken state right. Now and you feel like you you're lost like you've lost your purpose and. Your meaning you've missed the boat and somehow you don't know what's going on. That's that's not the truth he still desires to do something with you. Don't stop just in the denial move forward yes it hurts yes it's disappointing? Yes it's frustrating yes it's shame involved yes you want to go hide. Yes there's a whole Lot of that stuff that causes you want to step back. But don't stop because there's something on the other side of broken there's miracles there's a miraculous there's souls being fed there's. That ministry that he promised you long ago this there stop running from. It just because you've fallen down and you're broken in this moment he has. Not quit he has not stopped his desire is still to do that through.

You you have to push past yourself in this moment the beauty with Peter. Was that even after the crucifixion and everything it stopped and it seemed like all? Was lost Peter goes back and does the only thing he knows to? Do he goes back to fishing that's what happens to so many of us? We feel like we've missed the boat with God when we feel like we've messed up we've made a mistake. And things didn't turn out the way they were in our mind oh the dream. We had oh how he spoke to us that night in that time in the altar all those words. That came to us we remember them so vividly. So so strong we know God spoke to us. But it seems like lost it seems like hope is gone it died on the cross. What am I to do when what it seems as though he called me to? Do is dead Peter went back to the only thing he knew to? Do he went back to fishing Jesus goes looking for him why? Because he wasn't done with Peter misunderstood I knew you were going to fall Peter.

But I'm not done with you there's a whole Lot still for you to. Do there's churches Peter I need you to start there's people I'm still going to send? You to go see Peter I got something that's important for you to. Do so Peter why are you back in that boat Peter I didn't call? You to be a fisherman for fish I called you out of that life to fish. For men why have you gone back and picked your nets and your boat up. Again whoo speaking of somebody you went back to the boat and you went back to the nets. You went back to default you went back to safe you went back to the gnome. We went back to what you were comfortable with God's not done with. You he doesn't want you back in the boat he doesn't want you back in the nets. He doesn't want you back in the comfortable he's called you into the uncomfortable into the unknown to where the miraculous takes place to where. He can do mighty things to you how's it going gentlemen and called nothing all of a sudden something starts clicking hey hey hey.

That sounds familiar something about that familiar call Peter was really being a heathen. He was inappropriately dressed and in it quick he goes from chopping ears off to being a redneck out on a boat. Who is it who's that it's the master something in Peter clicks puts? His coat back on he can't wait to roll the shores dude he starts swimming. He gets there and on the shore breakfast is cooked he's going to feed him and talk to him. And ask him some real hard questions like do you love me Peter Lord. You know I love you feed my sheep Peter do you love me Lord. You know I love you feed my lambs Peter do you love me Lord I can't believe. You're asking me this surely you've seen me surely you know me Lord. You know I love you and feed my sheep Peter John chapter 1. He starts off by saying follow me the last chapter in the book of John. He ends by looking at Peter and say follow me I haven't changed. My mind Peter don't go get in that boat don't go back to fishing just.

Because you made a mistake doesn't mean I'm done with you I have things still for. You to do come back and follow me and I feel strong in. My spirit that I'm reaching for some individuals today that you have become content where. You are but that's not where God wants you to be you've taken a few setbacks things haven't worked out the way. You want to you've stepped out in faith once or twice and it seems like. You fell flat on your face trying to do what it is you know. God called you to do listen to me there's blessings and there's brokenness and. They all come inside the hands of God. But it doesn't mean just because you're blessed that you're always going to be blessed. It doesn't mean just because you're broken that you're always going to be broken. It's the fluctuation of ministry and following after him sometimes I'm on mountaintops and. Sometimes I'm in valleys sometimes I'm seeing blinded eyes open and sometimes I'm in a prison cell. But no matter where I am I found how to be content whatever.

It is I have to do I learn to trust him no matter. What I'm facing I know I'm not facing it by myself and though may be discouraged I know? My hope is in him my trust is in him God has never one time failed me. And I feel in my spirit there's a restoration to take place in. This house today there is a ministry there is a ministry restoration that needs to take place you've set too long God's calling. You out let that fear go away anxiety needs to be gone in the name of. Jesus he's already gave us multiple words of confirmation in this service today. That he is desiring to do a work in you and through you in its time. It's time.